Characteristics Used to Name Skeletal Muscles Naming Skeletal

Characteristics Used to Name Skeletal Muscles

Naming Skeletal Muscles 1 – Location of the muscle 2 – Shape of the muscle 3 – Size of the muscle 4 – Direction/Orientation of the muscle fibers/cells 5 – Number of Origins 6 – Location of the Attachments 7 – Action of the muscle

Muscles Named by Location: l frontalis – frontal bone l lateralis – lateral or on the side l tibialis anterior – front of tibia l fibularis longus – near fibula l supra – above l infra – below l sub - underneath

Muscles Named by Shape: l deltoid – triangle l Latissimus – wide l teres - round l trapezius – trapezoid l serratus –saw-toothe l orbicularis – circular

Muscles Named by Size: l l l l maximus – largest minimis – smallest vastus - huge longus – longest brevis – short major – large minor – small Example: Pectoralis Major

Muscles Named by Direction of Fibers Direction/Orientation: l rectus (straight) - parallel to the muscle’s long axis ex: rectus abdominis l transversus (transverse) – at right angles to the muscle’s long axis l oblique – diagonal

Muscles Named for Number of Origins: l biceps – two origins ex: biceps brachii l triceps – three origins ex: triceps brachii l quadriceps – four origins

Muscles Named for Origin and Insertion Points Origin and Insertion: sterno = sternum cleiodo = clavicle mastoid = location on the temporal bone sternocleiodomastoid muscle

Muscles Named for Action: l flexor carpi radialis – flexes wrist l abductor magnus – abducts the thigh l extensor digitorum – extends the fingers l levator – lifts a structure